Shows
Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags Appoints a New CEO — What It Means for the ParksSix Flags has appointed John Reilly as its new CEO—a leader who spent 21 years at SeaWorld and later held top roles at Palace Entertainment, the parent company of regional parks like Kennywood and Lake Compounce. Philip and Scott discuss why that résumé matters: Reilly comes from chains where executives wear multiple hats, work with tight budgets, and operate parks that feel far closer to the “scrappy” reality of Six Flags than the polished, expert-driven models of Disney or Universal. The hosts argue that this is exactly the kind of background a merged Six Flags–Cedar Fair company needs. With the c...
2025-12-0131 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30IAAPA Expo 2025: Indoors, Interactive, and Value-DrivenIAAPA Expo 2025 set a new record with 38,520 verified attendees, more than 28,000 qualified buyers, and an expanded floor featuring over 1,100 exhibitorsgt-nov-23. Philip and Scott break down the trends that truly mattered this year: the push toward indoor attractions (from SeaWorld Orlando’s new Vekoma indoor inverted coaster to Merlin’s $90 million Galacticoaster installations), the explosion of 'interactive' dark rides like Sally’s Phantom Theater and its new Mini™ dark ride heading to Qatar, and the rise of 'competitive socializing' through Triotech’s new Montreal trio. They also discuss the operational side: Roller’s new industry benchmark report showing mobile dominating bookings and F&B, mem...
2025-11-2430 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags Bets on Travis Kelce as Disney Faces a Cable CrisisSix Flags will attempt to leverage Travis Kelce’s 9% investment into a full branding partnership, leaning into ‘the new world.’ Meanwhile, Disney’s stock dipped 7% after its latest earnings show cable is collapsing faster than expected. Streaming and the parks remain its lifeboat, with both those sectors performing well, underscoring that the company’s future lies in IP that monetizes across screens and physical spaces. Finally, Herschend struck a deal to acquire Silverwood Theme Park. Philip and Scott unpack what these moves say about where the industry is heading—fewer ads, smaller screens, bigger personalities, and more mission-driven ownership. Listen to weekly BO...
2025-11-1631 min
Infinite Endurance NetworkAlec Hernandez Pre-2025 Big Texas Ultra 100K Championship InterviewIf you have any suggestions for a topic or guest, send us a text!An interview with Alec Hernandez before the 2025 Big Texas Ultra 100K Championship. Alec qualified earlier this year at the North Texas Ultra 100K. Since then, he has leveled up his training and has become a true student of the sport. He's bringing a tenacious mindset to the starting line and is determined to make his Big Texas Ultra Championship debut a memorable one. Support the showThank you for listening to the Infinite Endurance Network. We hope today's episode l...
2025-11-1112 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags Plans More Park Closures — Here’s Why It Makes SenseThree companies, one economic reality—and three very different responses. Six Flags is doubling down on its “smaller and more nimble” plan, prioritizing core parks and openly confirming that more closures or sales are coming. United Parks & Resorts (SeaWorld/Busch Gardens) is battling brand confusion after a 25% profit drop, citing weather and marketing challenges while its Halloween events hit record highs. Meanwhile, Disneyland Resort announced 100 layoffs as part of an “organizational recalibration,” even as its parks remain packed and profitable. Philip and Scott unpack how each company’s move reflects a different playbook for survival: consolidation, rebranding, and recalibration. The big question...
2025-11-1033 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Halloween Special: Trends, Tropes, and TakeawaysFrom Hollywood to Florida and New York to Oregon, this year’s Halloween season proved that the industry is evolving—just not abandoning its roots. Sliders continue to grow as choreographed street theater, chainsaws remain the undeniable American haunt anthem, and creative teams nationwide are finding new ways to give guests something active to do between scares. From selfie moments and staged photo ops to queue-line performers and mini-interactions, the focus is shifting from watching horror to participating in it. Philip and Scott break down what these trends say about guest expectations, why smaller haunts are thriving by leaning into inti...
2025-10-3131 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Travis Kelce Buys into Six Flags & TEA Global Experience IndexKansas City Chiefs star—and Taylor Swift’s fiancé—Travis Kelce now owns a 9% stake in Six Flags alongside hedge fund Jana Partners, instantly making the struggling park chain a national headline. Former Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet, however, wasn’t impressed—publicly calling out the board for “cycling through CEOs, destroying value, and failing to show ownership” while urging the next chief executive to rebuild with leaders who actually understand entertainment. Philip and Scott unpack what Kelce’s investment really means: Is it a lifeline, a PR distraction, or a sign activist investors are circling?The hosts also dive into th...
2025-10-2631 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags’ Leadership Shake-Up and the Qiddiya ConfusionSix Flags is losing more of its board—Executive Chairman Selim Bassoul and Lead Independent Director Daniel Hanrahan will leave the board at year’s end, following CEO Richard Zimmerman’s exit announcement. Bassoul, who also lined up a new role outside the industry, will remain as a consultant through the launch of Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia. The company stumbled when its first press release listed Qiddiya City opening in 2026, only to issue an immediate correction claiming 2025—adding to investor confusion. Philip and Scott unpack what the back-to-back departures mean for a company still struggling to execute its “Gre...
2025-10-1930 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Disney Raises Prices—Is the “Happiest Place on Earth” Now for the Wealthiest?Disney has hiked prices again—day tickets, annual passes, parking, and even Lightning Lane. At Disneyland, parking now costs $40 a day and the top-tier Inspire Key annual pass jumps to $1,899, still with blockout dates and reservation limits. In Florida, annual passes are up as well, though one-day tickets remain steadier. Philip and Scott debate whether these moves are a strategy to manage crowd levels or a sign of the parks leaning further into exclusivity—especially as Disney faces stock pressure and boycotts. Are higher prices a reset for quality and capacity, or the next step in making Disney a luxury bran...
2025-10-1330 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Stardust Racers Reopens: Safety, Accessibility, and Universal’s Toughest Balancing ActUniversal has reopened Stardust Racers at Epic Universe, following a fatal incident earlier this year, and introduced new signage and stricter accessibility requirements. The latest safety guide now warns guests with weakened bones, limited mobility, or difficulty maintaining an upright position not to ride—and the “must walk independently” clause now extends across multiple attractions. Philip and Scott unpack what this means for operators who must balance guest safety, accessibility, and legal liability. Should Universal have waited longer to reopen, or do the updated rules demonstrate responsible transparency? Plus, Universal’s Vegas venue gets festive with Krampus and Kin, a dark-hol...
2025-10-0631 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30More Guests, Less Money: Six Flags’ Big ProblemSix Flags reported 298,000 more visits this summer, a 3% attendance bump compared to 2024. But guests spent 7% less on admission, pulling overall revenue down 2% even as food and merch ticked up. Management insists that trading short-term ticket prices for long-term passholder growth will pay off, pointing to early 2026 pass sales pacing ahead with prices up 3%.Philip and Scott unpack why this strategy only works if guests return—and how seasonal event cuts complicate the picture. Knott’s Scary Farm dropped all Wednesday nights, while Magic Mountain cut Thursday Fright Fests, following news of other properties abruptly canceling both Halloween and Christmas, desp...
2025-09-2231 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Halloween Trends 2025: What Guests Really Want (and What That Means for Your Attraction)Only 19% of U.S. adults say they want “scary vibes” this Halloween—while 30% plan to wear multiple costumes and 70% say organized events are steady or increasing. Philip and Scott unpack the annual HalloweenCostumes.com survey and why it matters: the demand for cute, funny, and cosplay-style experiences is growing faster than gore, audiences are starting to plan earlier, and AI is already a factor in how people search for inspiration. They also discuss how rising competition and budget-conscious consumers may shape event calendars, citing Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Scary Farm cutting weeknights while Hersheypark’s Dark Nights leans on b...
2025-09-1730 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Art the Clown Harassment? Navigating Safety Challenges at Theme ParksUniversal’s roaming Art the Clown character has become a lightning rod at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando, with videos showing guests harassing, chasing, and even blocking his path. Meanwhile, Hollywood’s version of the same character ran smoothly—suggesting this is less about the IP and more about training, staffing, and audience management.Philip and Scott break down why safety lapses around street performers are a business problem as much as a guest problem, and how differences in talent pools, training, and crowd “rules” create very different outcomes on each coast. Plus: what Hersheypark’s recent monorail incident and other headli...
2025-09-0833 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags Adds Haunted House Fees—Will Guests Pay for What They Once Got Free?Legacy Cedar Fair parks are moving to the Six Flags model this Halloween, requiring a new $10–$20 Haunted Attractions Pass for mazes—and an extra $15 for The Conjuring house. Even Gold Pass holders must pay, sparking backlash from fans who see it as a bait-and-switch. Philip and Scott debate whether this is a necessary step toward higher-quality haunts or a misstep that erodes trust. It appears that Six Flags is moving to the 'separately ticketed' model of Knott's Scary Farm instead of the 'mix-in' model of legacy Cedar Fair parks. But as Six Flags attempts to unify its Halloween portfolio - Will...
2025-08-1831 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags’ $100M Loss, CEO Exit & the Season Pass GambleSix Flags posted a nearly $100 million loss in Q2—down from a $55 million profit a year ago—on 1.4 million fewer visitors, a smaller base of season passholders, and what it calls “adverse weather.” The company is looking to sell nonessential assets, while also running an aggressive August pass sale to bring in quick cash and rebuild its passholder base. Philip and Scott unpack why front-loading revenue can backfire if you can’t keep guests returning to spend in-park, and how Six Flags’ own investor day framed season passes as its growth engine. They also discuss CEO Richard Zimmerman’s decision to step down b...
2025-08-1030 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags Cuts —What Happens When Cost Savings Kill Return Visits?Six Flags just canceled its Christmas and Halloween events at multiple parks—including Holiday in the Park at Great Adventure and Over Georgia, and Fright Fest at Six Flags America, which will now close permanently on Nov. 2. Michigan’s Adventure also dropped its Tricks and Treats event and will end its season on Sept. 1. The company says it’s “focusing on the core season,” but Philip and Scott aren’t buying it.This week, the hosts break down what these cancellations mean for perceived value, season pass retention, and long-term brand equity—especially as Six Flags launches a new “Most Valuable Pa...
2025-08-0434 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30What Makes an IP Popular? Lessons from Comic-Con for Theme ParksWhat makes an IP popular today? It’s not just the box office or streaming stats—it’s the fans who show up, dress up, and wait five hours for a free experience. At San Diego Comic-Con, Percy Jackson, Alien, and K-pop Demon Hunters proved that passion, not just numbers, powers IP. Philip and Scott break down why pop-ups are becoming the new focus groups, how activations create the data stories that boards and licensors want, and what theme park professionals can learn from the way studios test, validate, and launch IP in the wild. If you're pitching an IP partne...
2025-07-2831 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Asia’s Comeback? IAAPA Asia & Legoland Shanghai’s OpeningAsia was expected to become the new theme park capital of the world—then the pandemic hit. IAAPA Asia drew 7,000+ attendees to Shanghai, but is that enough to signal Asia’s tourism comeback? Philip reports from the show floor, including takeaways from Disney executive Jill Estorino’s keynote, where she credited young adult women with shaping the guest culture at Shanghai Disneyland—impacting everything from merchandise and mobile content creation to how F&B is presented across the park. Meanwhile, Legoland Shanghai, including its eight themed lands, 85 million bricks, and resort-wide creative choices, has set a new quality bar for IP-driven...
2025-07-1530 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Holiday Nostalgia, Living Art & After-Dark Upsell—3 Plays for Year-Round Repeat VisitsHallmark is back with its Kansas City “Christmas Experience,” aiming to top last year’s 100,000-guest debut by doubling down on comfort-food tradition—workshops, red-carpet movie premieres, and even themed Marriott suites. Philip and Scott unpack how leaning into safe, repeatable rituals can turn a pop-up into a pilgrimage. Next, Meow Wolf launches Phenomenomaly, a summer-long loop of live dance, puppetry, and guest interaction inside its Las Vegas and Denver exhibitions—proof that adding performers keeps ticket-buyers coming back for a second trip, rather than treating the art as a one-and-done selfie stop. Finally, Chicago’s big museums roll out a multisenso...
2025-07-0731 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30The Modern Halloween Event: Gaming IPs, Immersion, and $350 previewsUniversal is doubling down on pop-culture firepower with the enormously popular gaming IPs of Fallout and Five Nights at Freddy’s confirmed for this year's Halloween Horror Nights. They're also charging superfans $350 for “Premium Scream Night,” a ticketed dress rehearsal. With massive IPs and superfans willing to pay premium prices just to attend a dress rehearsal, how can smaller attractions compete? Thirteenth Floor and Winchester Mystery House might have an answer with "Festival Fright Nights." The event will transform the labyrinthine Winchester Mystery House into a Halloween event with three haunted houses and entertainment. The key is the immersive storyline, which s...
2025-06-2931 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Louvre Walkout Shocks Paris | Netflix House RevealedThe Louvre’s staff closed the world’s most-visited museum with a snap strike, blaming “untenable” crowding and a 20 % cut in state funding even as attendance soars. Philip and Scott pull three operating fixes every attraction can steal now—hard capacity caps, timed-entry tech, and reinvesting in on-site teams before adding the next wing—because a six-year master plan won’t save a gallery that melts down tomorrow. Across the Atlantic, Netflix unveiled its first Netflix House venues—permanent ticketed centers built around Wednesday, One Piece, Stranger Things, and Squid Game. The hosts explain why Netflix needs brick-and-mortar revenue as YouTube does to...
2025-06-2231 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Disney’s Midjourney Lawsuit: Can Copyright Contain AI?Disney and Universal just opened Hollywood’s first heavyweight copyright war against Midjourney, arguing the AI was trained on “countless stolen works.” Philip and Scott debate the case and what it means if your park’s creative team. Then Disney drops a fresh study valuing its U.S. parks at nearly $67 billion and 400,000 jobs, a powerful flex to hedge against future political turmoil. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
2025-06-1631 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Five TRENDS You Can’t Ignore: Mergers, Velvet Ropes, and the Rise of Festival-First ParksSix Flags and Cedar Fair’s $8 billion mash-up, Herschend’s shopping spree, and Falcon’s Beyond devouring Oceaneering are just the opening salvo in a consolidation wave now squeezing most regional parks into four corporate camps. But deal-making is only the first of five seismic shifts Philip and Scott unpack this week. They probe why per-guest spending keeps climbing even as attendance flattens, how velvet-rope up-charges like Disneyland’s $400 Premier Pass and Six Flags’ $162-a-month Flash Pass are normalizing class tiers, and why every operator—from Universal’s Fan Fest Nights to SeaWorld’s Coasters After Dark—now treats shoulder-season festivals as its l...
2025-06-0930 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Magic, Money, and the Middle East: Disney’s Record QuarterDisney’s stock jumped 7 % after a blockbuster Q2— streaming gained a million subs, Thunderbolts opened #1 worldwide, domestic park profit climbed 13 %, and Bob Iger unveiled the first “authentically Disney, distinctly Emirati” Disney park on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. Philip and Scott unpack why Disney is leaning into the parks (finally), Disney's new quality-over-quantity pledge, and debate whether the glowing numbers are a trailing indicator before tariffs, weather, and China headwinds bite; and examine how licensing to Miral lets Disney tap 500 million potential guests without spending a dime of cap-ex. Plus, Scott shares on-the-ground LGBTQ insights from living in the UAE—and what oth...
2025-05-1935 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Pruning Parks, Powering Up Hotels: Six Flags Shutters as DC Invades GaylordSix Flags/Cedar Fair’s first post-merger casualty is Six Flags America, erasing 70 full-time and 700 seasonal jobs and $3.5 million in local tax revenue—freeing capital for “marquee” investments elsewhere. At the same time, Marriott’s Gaylord resorts are turning their glass atriums into mini-comic-cons with a DC-branded summer slate, headlined by a 17,500-sq-ft lantern trail of 24-ft heroes, to lure families who might skip a theme-park trip. Philip and Scott ask whether strategic portfolio pruning and shoulder-season IP pivots are the new survival play as rising rates have already killed Sacramento’s planned $300 million Elk Grove zoo. Listen for the implications...
2025-05-1234 min
HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | HauntersHow to get more people to your Haunted Attraction: Philip HernandezPhilip Hernandez, the founder of the Haunted Attraction Network and CEO of Gantom, answers all of your marketing questions. He has experience in social media, marketing, video & audio, theme parks, haunted attractions, public relations, press releases, and much more. Find Philip at HauntedAttractionNetwork.com Start and grow your haunted attraction at HauntersToolbox.com Reward, Retain, and Recognize your haunt staff with ScareItBadges.com
2025-04-281h 44Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30INSIGHTS: The Uncertainty EpidemicIn this first audio edition of Green Tagged Insights, Philip reads the inaugural newsletter analyzing what he calls "The Uncertainty Epidemic" affecting the attractions industry. With economic uncertainty now higher than during COVID and consumer confidence plummeting, hear how industry leaders are responding through strategic diversification. The episode explores Universal's multi-faceted approach with their UK expansion, United Airlines' barbell strategy revealing shifting tourism patterns, and what attractions of all sizes can learn from these examples. Philip also covers Merlin's entertainment outsourcing partnership with RWS, Disney's Paris expansion plans, and Sphere's content strategy - all presented in a straightforward, analysis-focused format...
2025-04-1908 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Universal Studios UK: A £50 Billion Brexit Comeback Strategy for 2031Universal's newly announced UK theme park isn't just another expansion—it's a strategic economic revitalization plan positioned to transform Britain's post-Brexit economy. We analyze how this 476-acre project near London promises 8.5 million first-year visitors, 28,000 jobs, and a £50 billion economic impact by 2055. Scott and Philip explore why Universal's diversification strategy—balancing global location risk while expanding into kid-friendly, adult-horror, and now European markets—represents smart portfolio planning that mirrors current financial advice to balance US and international investments. Plus, we examine how Universal's IP-driven approach will differentiate it from Puy du Fou's cultural focus and potentially challenge Merlin's regional dominance. Is this ma...
2025-04-1331 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Disney's Operational Magic: Key Insights from IAAPA's North America Summit 2025Go behind the scenes at Disney with exclusive takeaways from IAAPA's North America Summit 2025 at Disneyland Resort! Philip shares first-hand insights from Disney executives on the thoughtful redesign of Toontown and how small, intentional changes create significant guest experience improvements. Discover how Disney balances operational necessities with guest comfort through innovative solutions - from stroller parking zones to decompression spaces to mixed-and-match cast costumes that enhance storytelling. We explore why seemingly simple elements like tables, chairs, and even non-flat grassy areas faced resistance yet proved crucial for guest satisfaction. Scott provides industry context to these practices, making these high-level insights...
2025-04-0731 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Tariffs & Terror: Why and How Universal is Diversifying in an Unpredictable MarketThis week Philip shares key insights from the Themed Entertainment Association's Inspire Week and Leadership Forum. Amid tariff concerns and market volatility, we explore how Universal is strategically diversifying its entertainment portfolio. From a year-round horror experience in Las Vegas to fan-focused pop-up festivals and a family-centric local approach in Texas, Universal is placing calculated bets across multiple markets. Discover the inside details on Universal Horror Unleashed, FanFest Nights, Universal Kids Resort, and why "don't panic, just pivot" has become the industry's survival mantra in 2025's unpredictable economic landscape. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our patreon.
2025-03-1730 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Theme Park Growth in China, Luxury Resorts in Mexico, and Mattel Adventure DelaysPhilip and Scott dive into key developments in the global attractions industry. China's theme parks are seeing a massive rebound, with a 71.8% surge in visitors and nearly 98% revenue growth in 2023. Meanwhile, Mexico's Grupo Vidanta revealed groundbreaking details for VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park, a $1.3 billion project opening in 2026. Finally, the Mattel Adventure Park opening has been delayed until 2025, reflecting ongoing challenges in the industry, from supply chain disruptions to economic uncertainty. Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes. Now you can gift a subscription to Green Tagged.
2024-12-0231 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30IAAPA Expo 2024: Networking, Learning, and Building the FutureGet weekly bonus episodes here. In this week’s Green Tagged, Philip and Scott unpack the networking and education opportunities that defined IAAPA Expo 2024, which broke records with 41,429 total attendees and over 140 educational sessions. Philip reflects on the IAAPA Fireside Chat, where industry leaders highlighted how partnerships like Merlin x Minecraft bridge the digital and physical worlds to drive engagement. Meanwhile, Scott shares insights from the Entertainment Professionals Network session, which spotlighted innovative approaches to talent development and live entertainment. Drawing on his own experiences as a session leader, Scott discusses how education sessions offered attendees practical strategies for elevating gu...
2024-11-2531 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Disney's Big Wins & Six Flags’ $1 Billion Bet: A Tale of Two StrategiesPhilip and Scott dissect Disney's Q3 earnings, celebrating Disney+'s profitability, billion-dollar blockbusters, and robust park performance. CEO Bob Iger calls it “a new era of growth,” but looming challenges like declining TV assets and leadership succession raise questions. Meanwhile, Six Flags announces a $1 billion investment over two years, featuring record-breaking coasters, dining upgrades, and seasonal events. Will Six Flags’ efforts match Disney’s IP-driven strategy, or is it a short-term refresh? Plus, how does Disney’s storytelling mastery make its ecosystem thrive? Get weekly BONUS shows on our Patreon.
2024-11-1731 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30Six Flags' Project Accelerate: Transformative Strategy or Missed Opportunity?In this week's Green Tagged, Philip and Scott dive into Six Flags' Q3 earnings report and their new three-year plan, "Project Accelerate." With attendance dipping slightly but per capita spending climbing, Six Flags has pivoted to a revenue-over-quantity strategy—a trend echoing the broader theme park industry. Project Accelerate aims to boost attendance to 55 million guests and reach a 35% Modified EBITDA margin by 2027. However, as Philip and Scott discuss, the plan lacks specific, measurable goals and a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Is this strategy bold enough to inspire transformation, or does it fall short? Join the conversation and let us kn...
2024-11-1132 minGreen Tagged: Theme Park in 30SPECIAL: Halloween's EcosystemWeekly bonus episodes on our Patreon. It’s our Halloween special! We dive into Fun.com’s costume data to see how IP-driven favorites like Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, and Inside Out define the season, showing Halloween’s unique synergy across homes, media, and theme parks. We then delve into recent haunt visits: Scott’s behind-the-scenes look at Netherworld’s stellar operations and Philip’s trip to Dark at Fort Edmonton, exploring how the event has expanded.
2024-10-2831 min